The Tall Blacks’ dream of Olympic qualification ended after a crushing 104-78 defeat by Slovenia in a qualifying tournament in Greece.
New Zealand needed to lose by no more than 11 points to advance, but an outstanding performance from NBA star Luka Doncic, who achieved a triple-double with 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, ensured Slovenia’s victory.
Despite a valiant effort, including a 28-point game from Shea Ili, the Tall Blacks couldn’t keep pace, leaving Croatia and Slovenia to advance to the semi-finals based on superior points differential.
